Store-service apparatus



(No Model.) Y

J. M. AKERS.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 392,771. Patented Nov. 13, -1888.

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JOHN M. AKERS, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO.

STOREeSERVlCE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,771, dated November 13, 188.

Application filed March E17. 1888.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN M. Annes, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Alliance, county of Stark, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Store Service Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in store-service apparatus; and it consists in providing means, as hereinafter described, for securing the apparatus in working position and to impart initial impetus to the carriers, and to the detail and combination of parts, as set forth in the claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of store-service apparatus illustrating my invention secured to a counter or below the wireway. Fig. 2 is same view, showing service supported from the ceiling or above the wireway, partly sectional. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview of detail, hereinafter explained; and Fig. 4, a key for tightening the wireway.

A represents a hollow post having a base, B, by which it may be secured to a counter or ceiling, and a set-screw, c, by which the adjustable stem C may be secured in desired adjustment therein. On the outer end of said stem there is mounted a hollow body portion, D, having on one of its ends a head, I), through which there is provided a central perforation, c, that is smaller than the annular bore d of the body D. In the body portion D is placed a coilspring, E, one end of which rests against the head b, through which is passed the rod F, said rod having one end enlarged, as f, forming a piston,which fills the annular bore of the body D, and a shoulder, g, to rest against the end of the spring E, substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

On the inner end of the rod F is secured an open-ended mouthpiece, G, in which is pivotally secured the clampingjaws h,saidj aws having near their free ends shoulders z', and are moved inwardly by the exertion of the spring j and outwardly by the cam 7c,secured to crosspin Z, which is journaled in the side of the mouthpiece G. On the outer end of said pin is mounted a'tripdever, m, and on lthe outer portion of the rod F is secured a catch, n, and a rubber buffer, o, hereinafter explained.

Serial No. 268,686. (No model.)

' From the body D there is projected an arm, H, as shown, to the free end of which is piv..A otally secured a hand-lever, J, said lever having a through-mortise, p, through which the rod F is passed, and a handle portion, q.

To the side of the lever J there is pivotally secured agravityactuated pawl, K, in the form of a bell-crank, as shown in Fig. l, having on its upper inner end a catch, r, and to the lower portion'links s s, by which said pawl is connected to the body portion D, the length of said links or their equivalents being adapted to the desired movement of the rod F. The lever J is connected to the arm m by the chain L, the object of which will be hereinafter ex plained.

On the under side of the body D there is pro vided an arm, M, having in its outer end a perforation, t, through which the end of the wireway N is passed, and at its inner end a tuin pin, u, about which the wire may be wound by the use of the key O, and held tight by the rackwheel o, mounted on said pin and pawl w. Two sets of the hereinbeforedescribed apparatus are required for each line of' service, one of which is placed at the cash-stand and the other at any desired point in the store, and connected by a single wireway, N, made tight by the means hereinbefore described. A carrier, P, of the forni substantially as shown in Fig. l, is provided, having a frame, a', wheels b, depending cup-support c', cup d', conical catches f, and rubber buers g. The cup d may be removed by pressing in the springbuttons h'.

To adapt the apparatus for a depending connection with the ceiling of the room, the stem C may project from the upperside of the body D, as shown in Fig. 2, and the standard A in Verted to form a hanger for the apparatus. rlhis send-off is so constructed as to be moved or controlled by the operator in one direction to compress the spring, and by the energy of thespring in the other direction to impart a forcible and sudden movement to the carrier upon the way, and is operated as follows:

The conical head or catch of the ear is passed into thejaws on the driving-rod, and the handlever pressed in until the pawl drops into the catch on the rod. The lever J is then drawn back, compressing the spring E to a certain IOO distance, limited by the links S, which, when straight, raise the pawl (see Fig. 2) out of engagement with the catch, releasing the spring which drives the rod out. The chain L, becoming tight before the movement of the rod is arrested by the buffer o, draws the lever m in, as shown in Fig. 3, and the cam 7tso turned as to spread or open the jaws h and release the ear,which, having received the impulse of the spring, is driven over the wiroway to the station,where it is caught in the jaws h, the motion of the car being arrested by the yielding of the spring E without injurious jar or noise. rllhns the car is sent back and :forth over the WireWay, regardless of grades, with great rapidity and certainty.

Having thus fully described tho nature and object of my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the way and carrier, of thc supporting-stem having a hollow portion, a spring located therein, a piston or driving rod operated by said spring, jaws to secure the carrier to the rod, a catch, as a, on said rod, a handlever, J, pawl l, pivoted thereto and adapted to engage the catch a, links pivoted to the frame, andthe hand-lever whereby the rod or piston is released when the links become substantially in a line with each other, substantially as set forth.

2. The Combination, with the way and car-- rier, of a supporting-stem, a hollow body portion inelosing a spring-actuated piston or driving rod, jaws pivoted to said'driving-rod, a lever for retracting said driving-rod, and a cam located between said jaws and connected to the lever, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,with theway and the carrier, of the supporting-stern, a hollow body portion inclosing a spring-actuated piston or driving rod, a catch secured at one end of said driving-rod and pivoted jaws at the other end, a cam located between said jaws, a hand-lever, a pawl pivoted thereto, links pivoted to said pawl and to the frame or post, and a cord or chain connected to the said cani and to the lever, substantially as set forth.

Il.. The combination, with the way and the carrier, ofthe supporting-stem, a hollow body portion inclosing a spring-actuated piston or driving rod, jaws pivoted thereto, a spring engaging said jaws, a cam located between the jaws, a lever, and anchain or cord connecting the cam the1'ewitli,wliereby when the drivingrod is retracted the pivotcd jaws will be spread apart, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have heren nto set my hand this 22d day of March, A. l). 1888.

JOHN lll.. AKERS.

NVitnesses:

J. H. Johnson', .'l'. D. Lewis. 

